Winless in nine matches, United SC take on table toppers Bengaluru FC in a Round 21 clash of I-League at the Kalyani Stadium here tomorrow.
Bengaluru are having a remarkable debut I-League campaign as they have led the table for the majority of the season and currently are four points clear at the top.
The JSW-owned club had a mini slump after the I-League break as they picked up just one point from two games but bounced back in style last weekend with a convincing 3-0 victory over defending champions Churchill Brothers.
"The mark of any successful side, in any country in the world is how you react to defeat and we showed tremendous character to bounce back," Bengaluru coach Ashley Westwood said.
By contrast, United SC are on a nine-match winless streak in the I-League and are in danger of relegation as they are only five points above bottom-placed Churchill Brothers, having played an extra game.
Four of those nine games have ended in defeats including a 4-0 hammering against Rangdajied United in the last round.
United SC have picked up just two points in three games under newly-appointed technical director Subrata Bhattacharya and thus badly need a win to get their campaign back on track.
Bengaluru, however, cannot afford to drop points and tomorrow's match will be a great test of their character as they will not enjoy the excellent home support of the Bangalore Football Stadium.
The away record of the Bangalore side has not been that impressive with only three wins from seven games. Tomorrow's match will be the first of five more away fixtures and so a win would certainly give them the confidence in future.
An early goal from John Johnson was enough to give Bengaluru a 1-0 home victory when the teams met in October last.
